report from this am...

jabNE · 04-19-2008, 09:23 AM

FYI all, tossed a light tan jointed rap this AM over at WT. No strikes, but was fun to stretch the arms a bit. Tons of waterfowl on the lake, very cool morning. Nice break from the recent wind, rain, etc. Was not much wind at all this AM.

I did soak some nightcrawlers in the spillway for an hour or so before sunrise, too. Had a very nice cat on for a while. Got in that current (lot of water going through the tube) then broke a gear in my reel and coudn't crank the $!@& thing in. Finally broke it off in the current. I had purchased one of those inexpensive, so-called "catfish" rod combo setups as it was inexpensive and thought it would handle things OK. Even has "catfish rod" on the shaft...that and the price should have tipped me off. Thought it would be OK, hold up alright, but...it didn't. I am guessing from side of the catfish I saw when it rolled up on top in front of me that it was maybe 30" to 35" long, about 12" across on its side. Maybe 12-13 pounds or so? Nice dark back and dark silver/green side on it. Was a good tussle in that current anyway. Oh well, as my bro-in-law always says...when you buy walmart, you get walmart.

If you go back there, bring some rubber boots, the goo is pretty soft on sides of the "hole".

So, after the broken reel incident, that's when I gave up on the cats, crossed up and back over the dam, and broke out the musky rod and the jointed rap I brought along in case water was still somewhat clear after the rains. Its a little stained on main lake but very fishable with lures, it looked like to me. Again, no strikes but felt good to make long casts with a big lure and stretch the arms out. Maybe I'll just stick with this pursuit for awhile yet while I research a decent cat setup. Any feedback or suggestions are very welcome!

Hope you all have a great weekend.
Jim

**Mako** · 04-19-2008, 05:43 PM

I assume you were on shore? RedefiningFate and I were out there trying to see if we could find any bass for next week's tournament.

LiquidSteel · 04-19-2008, 07:02 PM

I got to know the name of that combo that failed. I bought one at Cabelas over the winter, and if its the same, I still got a receipt and will take it back. Please feel free to p.m. if you want to.

jabNE · 04-19-2008, 08:57 PM

I took the reel apart this afternoon. There is a tooth broken off of the large main crank gear. When you turn the crank the gear sticks with the secondary gear on this broken one every single turn and locks up. I'll just go get another reel, I guess. LiquidSteel, it says southbend on side and then in big letters "catfish rig". Could have just been one of those flawed products that somehow made it through quality checks, too. Who knows. I am looking at some reels through Rollie's musky shop catalog.
Jim

04-19-2008, 09:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
jabNE jabNE is climbing that corporate ladder at the hairclub for men Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hickman, NE Posts: 268 Thanks: 0 Thanked 145 Times in 45 Posts	report from this am... FYI all, tossed a light tan jointed rap this AM over at WT. No strikes, but was fun to stretch the arms a bit. Tons of waterfowl on the lake, very cool morning. Nice break from the recent wind, rain, etc. Was not much wind at all this AM. I did soak some nightcrawlers in the spillway for an hour or so before sunrise, too. Had a very nice cat on for a while. Got in that current (lot of water going through the tube) then broke a gear in my reel and coudn't crank the $!@& thing in. Finally broke it off in the current. I had purchased one of those inexpensive, so-called "catfish" rod combo setups as it was inexpensive and thought it would handle things OK. Even has "catfish rod" on the shaft...that and the price should have tipped me off. Thought it would be OK, hold up alright, but...it didn't. I am guessing from side of the catfish I saw when it rolled up on top in front of me that it was maybe 30" to 35" long, about 12" across on its side. Maybe 12-13 pounds or so? Nice dark back and dark silver/green side on it. Was a good tussle in that current anyway. Oh well, as my bro-in-law always says...when you buy walmart, you get walmart. If you go back there, bring some rubber boots, the goo is pretty soft on sides of the "hole". So, after the broken reel incident, that's when I gave up on the cats, crossed up and back over the dam, and broke out the musky rod and the jointed rap I brought along in case water was still somewhat clear after the rains. Its a little stained on main lake but very fishable with lures, it looked like to me. Again, no strikes but felt good to make long casts with a big lure and stretch the arms out. Maybe I'll just stick with this pursuit for awhile yet while I research a decent cat setup. Any feedback or suggestions are very welcome! Hope you all have a great weekend. Jim

04-19-2008, 05:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mako Mako is missing an old bald friend. Director Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A bit further south... Posts: 6,009 Thanks: 58 Thanked 394 Times in 265 Posts Blog Entries: 2	I assume you were on shore? RedefiningFate and I were out there trying to see if we could find any bass for next week's tournament. __________________ Be rude to a bully and he'll beat you up. Be rude to a geek and your computer will never forgive you.

04-19-2008, 07:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
LiquidSteel LiquidSteel is learning about bow hunting Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 851 Thanks: 273 Thanked 39 Times in 27 Posts	I got to know the name of that combo that failed. I bought one at Cabelas over the winter, and if its the same, I still got a receipt and will take it back. Please feel free to p.m. if you want to. __________________ I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me to do.

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04-19-2008, 08:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
jabNE jabNE is climbing that corporate ladder at the hairclub for men Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hickman, NE Posts: 268 Thanks: 0 Thanked 145 Times in 45 Posts	I took the reel apart this afternoon. There is a tooth broken off of the large main crank gear. When you turn the crank the gear sticks with the secondary gear on this broken one every single turn and locks up. I'll just go get another reel, I guess. LiquidSteel, it says southbend on side and then in big letters "catfish rig". Could have just been one of those flawed products that somehow made it through quality checks, too. Who knows. I am looking at some reels through Rollie's musky shop catalog. Jim